Inspiration
Gobelins Paris campus in Annecy
From teaching excellence to international renown
Annecy, the animation-film capital of the world, has for years enjoyed a privileged relationship with the prestigious Parisian school, Gobelins. Celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, the school is internationally recognized for its excellence in digital creation and visual arts.
Every edition of the legendary festival sees tomorrow’s talent take their first steps into the spotlight.
Every June since 1960, Annecy transforms into the genuine world capital of animation, carried by the excitement of the Annecy International Animation Film Festival. A must-attend event that brings together the major players in the industry, emerging talent, and animation enthusiasts to celebrate creativity and innovation in the visual arts. It also offers the chance for students from Gobelins Paris to present their thesis films, screened for the very first time.
Beyond its longstanding partnership with the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, Gobelins Paris also runs two education programs at the Papeteries Image Factory in Cran-Gevrier, its second campus and landmark location for the image and creative Industries:
- 3D Character Animation (a program only offered in Annecy and taught in partnership with CITIA).
- Expert in Interactive Digital Creation (managed by Ecole by CCI).
3D Character Animation (CITIA)
“The 3D Character Animation program, first as a one-year course but also over three years, began in 2010 to fulfill a clear need that CITIA had identified: training specialists in this fast-growing domain,” explains Valérie Sallaz, who oversees higher education programs for CITIA. “This need arose within the broader context of a rapidly growing animation film industry, marked by the emergence of new studios and schools dedicated to training the next generation of talented animators,” she adds.
“The 3D character animator gives life to the characters using specialized animation software. Like an actor in a live-action movie or a puppeteer, the animator plays roles, conveys emotion, creates movement, and choreographs action scenes based on the script. Their expertise is highly sought after by audiovisual production studios all over the world. It takes this extremely meticulous behind-the-scenes work to bring characters to life in such movies as Toy Story (the first full-length feature animated film) and Dragons, to name a few.”
In this international program one-third of the students come from outside of France. Among the one-hundred students currently enrolled, there are at least twenty different nationalities. All classes are taught in English, making it easy for students from diverse backgrounds to connect, work together, and share ideas. This multicultural environment offers students a true advantage, opening their minds and preparing them for the future.
Expert in Interactive Digital Creation (CCI Haute-Savoie)
Run by the Haute-Savoie Chamber of Commerce (CCI Haute-Savoie), this two-year work-study post-bachelor’s program covers two additional specializations: Interactive Designer and Web and Mobile Device Developer. Two skill sets sought after in today’s professional world, and students learn to collaborate together on exciting interdisciplinary projects.
Taught by industry professionals, students progress quickly, revealing their potential month after month as they grow into genuinely talented individuals. Committed, creative, and driven by their passion, they throw themselves fully into every project, losing track of time as the hours pass.
While students often work in groups for assignments, much of their time is still spent in front of a screen. However, projects focused on artificial intelligence and on the Internet of Things provide a welcome change of pace, allowing students the opportunity to step away from their screens to create interactive and immersive experiences. Drones, robots, Spheros, Raspberry Pi… this no holds barred approach gives life to a script by combining interactions and staging. They design the sets themselves – sawing, painting, cutting, repurposing… anything goes, well almost anything, and the creativity has no limits. The final presentation is simply mind-blowing, followed by explanations of the behind-the-scenes work, implementation, and the tools and techniques used. We are definitely impressed!
With these two programs, the Gobelins campus in Annecy confirms its key role in cultivating excellence in animation and digital education – firmly rooted in a vibrant professional ecosystem, with the International Animation Film Festival as the grand finale.
Gobelins Paris campus in Annecy
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Top of page photo credit:
- © Gobelins Paris campus Annecy
Journalist: Aude Pollet Thiollier
Translation: Darin Reisman